ND100411

Title: Experts Look Forward to the Future of Fuels

Description: Fuel experts provided a room full of retailers with a glimpse into their crystal ball during the NACS Show.

Page Content: CHICAGO ? While petroleum still accounts for nearly 57 percent of our country?s energy source, other sources, such as ethanol, diesel, biofuels, compressed natural gas (CNG) and electricity, are creating a buzz. But will they be around in 15 years?

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?Two or three years ago, this whole discussion would?ve been about E85,? said Jim Gentry, director of fuel purchasing, Gas America Services Inc. ?I think it will play a big role going forward, but for more than 100 years oil has been the lifeblood of our country and I think it will continue to be that way for a while.?

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Joel Velasco, senior vice president of external relations, Amyris Biotechnologies Inc., said cars will be far more fuel-efficient in the future and a similar energy infrastructure will exist.

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?We?ll still be using the liquid fuels we use today, but they?ll be made from completely different sources,? he said. ?There will clearly be petroleum in the diesel, but there will be renewable diesels of different varieties, so we?ll have a mix.?

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Coleman Jones, biofuel implementation manager of General Motors (eGM), sees a smaller proportion of petroleum being used per gallon of diesel.

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?There?s going to be more things in there, like biodiesel,? he said. ?I think you?ll see E10. I think you?re going to see a lot of E85 dispensers. In some places ? you?ll see some quick charges for some battery electric vehicles and you?ll see a lot of CNG in fleet usage because the cost advantage is there and it?s going to stay there.?

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Scott Zaremba, president of Zarco 66 Inc. (Zarco 66 Earth Friendly Fuels), said the alternative fuels will exist, but it will be business as usual for c-store owners.

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?I see us being in the same business we?re in today, but it?s going to be a much more efficient business,? he said. ?All these others, I think, are going to come into play and they?re all going to have their niche in some area, but a lot of it?s going to depend on where the government wants to push and what gets pushed, but I think we?re going to see something similar, just much more efficient than what we?re doing today.?

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Content Subject: Petroleum Retailing

Formatted Article Date: October 4, 2011

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